5 Historical Wreck Diving Destinations

Did you know Pelican Products actually began as a scuba diving company? As a child, Dave Parker, the founder of Pelican Products, loved to scuba dive. In 1975, Dave began to make and sell diving gear to local dive shops as an extra source of income. To this day, Pelican continues to make superior products such as dive lights and cases for scuba divers.

And as such, we’re outlining the best wreck diving destinations. Wreck diving is the scuba diving exploration of shipwrecks and disasters. Each dive contains both a rich history and a unique landscape. Divers describe an eerie “ghost like” feeling when exploring old ships and planes. In many cases the vessels have been there more than a hundred years. There are many wrecks to explore, but the ones listed below are unique and historical.

The Antilla was a German U-boat during World War II. When the Germans lost the war, the captain sank the ship instead of watching it transferred to enemy hands.

The Antilla sits only 500 yards offshore, and at more than 400 feet long, it is one of the largest shipwrecks in the Caribbean. The ship is actually visible from the air and part of it protrudes the surface of the water. Divers can expect to see yellowtails, angelfish, lobster, eels and more.

The FT Barney sank on October 23, 1868 in a collision with another ship. This schooner is 136 feet long and is almost completely intact. Ships preserve better in freshwater than in salt water due to less current and an absence of salt. Since the ship lies more than a hundred feet deep, this is a very difficult dive. The FT Barney is the only freshwater wreck diving location on our list.

The MS Zenobia was a world-class ferry that sunk on its maiden voyage in 1980. The ship was carrying 104 trucks at the time it capsized. In addition to the ferry, divers can expect to see trucks, cargo, and plenty of wildlife. Commonly sited animals include groupers, sea turtles, barracuda, and parrotfish.

The former US Navy Aircraft carrier was purposely sunk off the coast of Florida, and now holds the record as the largest artificial reef in the world. The Aircraft Carrier is 900 feet long and weighs 30,000 tons. This is an excellent environment for both wreck diving and marine life.

A flag flies underwater on the USS Oriskany to honor those who have served.

The Blackjack B17 was a bomber used in WWII. During a raid on a Japanese island, engine trouble caused it to crash into the sea near Papua New Guinea. The Blackjack remains intact and lies in about 150 feet of water. Divers can view the cockpit, turrets, and just about every other part of the plane. Groupers and smaller fish have made the plane their new home. Great visibility and the chance to see a WWII bomber make this an incredibly rewarding dive.

For navigating the wreckage, we recommend Pelican dive lights and cases for scuba divers. Pelican dive lights are durable and easy to operate. The Nemo 4300N is the ultimate dive light. It is submergible up to 100 meters and has a run time of six hours. It even comes with a lock switch so that it does not accidentally turn off during your dive. The Nemo 4300N is a must have for your next wreck diving adventure.

Do you have a wreck diving destination of choice? Please share in the comments below.